Saturday, July 13 was a perfect setting! Ono (delicious) Hawaiian kau kau (food), fantastic Hawaiian music, beautiful and handsome hula dancers, and Hawaiian fashion flair extraordinaire! It was a momentous and memorable evening at the New Zealand Embassy in Washington, D.C. as E Ala E Hawaiian Cultural Center unveiled “Fashion, Hawaiian-Style!”
The evening began with a cocktail reception with beer from the Ono Brewing Company and beer and wine from Williams `ohana! During the reception, guests enjoyed our Silent Auction and vendor tables both of which offered Hawaiian artwork, jewelry, flower hairpieces, smoked meat, and a cultural trip to Hawai`i, to name a few. Also, mahalo to the Australian Embassy for donating a beautiful gift basket!
Mahalo to Uncle’s Hawaiian Grindz for the “ono kine” Lomi Lomi Salmon; to Aloha Crew for the “broke-da-mout” Shoyu Chicken and Kalua Pork with Cabbage; and the New Zealand Embassy for the delish and tender lamb and wine! A huge mahalo to Ambassador Rosemary Banks of the New Zealand Embassy for being our Guest of Honor! We were also humbled that Art Dias, President of the Hawai`i State Society of Washington, D.C. was able to attend with his `ohana!
Our panel discussion focused on how the traditional fashion of our ancestors still heavily influence design of our modern world. Our guest panelists were Kanoelani Davis, owner and creator of PoMahina Designs, Tu Maihi, representing the Maori culture, and Wesley May, a Red Lake Chippewa from Northern Minnesota.
“We realized that art is not just what we frame and put on a wall,” said Takamine. “It’s the culture, principles and values that are at the core of who we are, that get transferred to the things that we wear.” - Kanoe Davis, PoMahina Designs
The highlight of the evening was the energetic, musical, and very entertaining fashion show of all three indigenous cultures! E Ala E Hawaiian Cultural Center’s talented alaka`i, who shared beautiful hula kahiko and `auana kicked off the evening followed by colorful fashion statements from the Maori, Native American and Hawaiian cultures. For Hawai`i, there were over 20 models (all who live here in the DMV area), ranging from small keiki (children) to kupuna (seniors), kane (men) and wahine (women). The fashion presentation was lively, musical, colorful, and above all, breath-taking and “good fun!” At the end of the evening, guests were able to purchase clothing from PoMahina Designs.
Mahalo nui loa to our “choke” models from different organizations in our area – Hālau O `Aulani, Hālau Nohona Hawai`i, our “aunties” from the Stafford area, our kupuna, and many morea!
A very special mahalo to the `ohana of E Ala E Hawaiian Cultural Center for creating this beautiful event – the Farias, Stewart, and Van Gieson `ohana and Aunty Ku`ulei. It was great seeing our members at our event and we mahalo you for your continued support!
2020 is just ahead and we have another exciting year of activities planned! Mahalo nui loa!
Mahalo to the following for the beautiful photos!
Pomahina Designs, Cody Kimoto, and Michael Garcia.
Check out more photo's from this event by Michael Garcia
Mahalo to our Sponsors:
William's Ohana
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